Factors influencing temporal variations of radon concentration in high-rise buildings

Long-term radon time series were analyzed in 14 rooms and offices to search factors influencing indoor radon concentration in high-rise buildings. Radon entry to living rooms is determined both by diffusion from building materials and advection from adjoined low-ventilated spaces. Humans affect on seasonal and diurnal radon concentration changes in high-rise buildings by activating ventilation system. Indoor-outdoor temperature difference significantly influence on the air exchange rate under uncontrolled ventilation, which is especially important in new energy efficient buildings.

RADON MEASUREMENTS IN BIG BUILDINGS: PILOT STUDY IN RUSSIA

Detailed analysis of indoor radon concentration distribution by floors was conducted in four children institutions, one office building and two residential houses in Russian cities to develop approaches to draw up a program of radon survey for big buildings. Higher variability of radon concentration was found in high geogenic radon potential (GRP) area when the soil is the main source of radon. No essential dependence of radon concentration on the floor in high-rise buildings was found in low GRP area. The number of required radon measurements is estimated using obtained characteristics of radon variability.

RADON TIME SERIES IN FOUR FLATS IN ENERGY EFFICIENT MULTI-STOREY BUILDING

Influence of living habits and meteorological parameters on indoor radon concentration in a new energy efficiency multi-storey flat building typical for Russian cities was studied using radon time series analysis. Continuous indoor radon measurements were conducted in four flats of the same multi-storey residential building in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Factors influencing indoor radon in surveyed building (by rank) are as follows: ventilation regime> indoor/outdoor temperature difference > wind direction. Intentional ventilation frequency, temperature difference and wind direction explain together up to 46% of indoor radon variability in a flat of multi-storey building.

RADON MEASUREMENTS IN KINDERGARTENS IN URAL REGION (RUSSIA)

The radon survey of kindergartens has been conducted in Sverdlovskaya oblast during 2013-16. Indoor radon concentrations have been measured in 180 kindergartens in 21 villages and 10 towns. The LR-115 nuclear track detectors were placed in 560 rooms (three or four rooms per kindergarten) during 2-3 months. To obtain annual values, radon measurements were carried in the cold and warm seasons. The arithmetic and geometric means of annual indoor radon concentrations in rooms are 59 and 42 Bq/m3 respectively, GSD = 2.33. Analysis of the building factors affecting radon entry is presented. The detailed radon survey was performed in one kindergarten where exceeding of national action radon level was observed.

COMPARISON OF APPROACHES TO OBTAIN A SAMPLE OF DWELLINGS FOR RADON SURVEY

Obtaining of the representative sample of dwellings is a basic requirement to organization of the radon survey. Since random selection is often impossible, quasi-random approaches are used. The aim of the study is to analyze errors in radon exposure assessment that resulted from rejecting the random selection. Both the modeling and experiments were conducted. Three types of errors were observed: shifting of the mean, change of the variance and mixture of the previous two.

Geogenic and anthropogenic impacts on indoor radon in the Techa River region

Indoor radon concentration was studied in the 14 settlements located near the Techa River, which was contaminated by radioactive wastes in 1950-s. Results of the radon survey were used for analysis of the relationship between the indoor radon and main geologic factors (Pre-Jurassic formations, Quaternary sediments and faults), local geogenic radon potential and anthropogenic factors. Main influencing factors explain 58% of the standard deviation of indoor radon concentration. Association of the air exchange influence over radon concentration with underlying geological media was related to different contributions of geogenic advective and diffusive radon entries. The properties of geological formation to transfer radon gas in interaction with the house can be considered within the radon geogenic potential concept. The study of the radon exposure of the Techa River population can be used to estimate the contribution of natural radon to the overall radiation exposure of the local population during the period of radioactive waste discharges.

Variance of indoor radon concentration: Major influencing factors

Variance of radon concentration in dwelling atmosphere is analysed with regard to geogenic and anthropogenic influencing factors. Analysis includes review of 81 national and regional indoor radon surveys with varying sampling pattern, sample size and duration of measurements and detailed consideration of two regional surveys (Sverdlovsk oblast, Russia and Niška Banja, Serbia). The analysis of the geometric standard deviation revealed that main factors influencing the dispersion of indoor radon concentration over the territory are as follows: area of territory, sample size, characteristics of measurements technique, the radon geogenic potential, building construction characteristics and living habits. As shown for Sverdlovsk oblast and Niška Banja town the dispersion as quantified by GSD is reduced by restricting to certain levels of control factors. Application of the developed approach to characterization of the world population radon exposure is discussed.

Reconstruction of national distribution of indoor radon concentration in Russia using results of regional indoor radon measurement programs

The aim of the paper is a reconstruction of the national distribution and estimation of the arithmetic average indoor radon concentration in Russia using the data of official annual 4-DOZ reports. Annual 4-DOZ reports summarize results of radiation measurements in 83 regions of Russian Federation. Information on more than 400,000 indoor radon measurements includes the average indoor radon isotopes equilibrium equivalent concentration (EEC) and number of measurements by regions and by three main types of houses: wooden, one-storey non-wooden, and multi-storey non-wooden houses. To reconstruct the national distribution, all-Russian model sample was generated by integration of sub-samples created using the results of each annual regional program of indoor radon measurements in each type of buildings. According to indoor radon concentration distribution reconstruction, all-Russian average indoor radon concentration is 48 Bq/m(3). Average indoor radon concentration by region ranges from 12 to 207 Bq/m(3). The 95-th percentile of the distribution is reached at indoor radon concentration 160 Bq/m(3).